Music
These days music is digital and mostly free. How does this impact us? Well, for one, big-name local artists are now able to release albums at will, with or without an album-release show or listening. On this note, Doughkain, one of the most respected artists on the streets, is back at us
We Recommend
J-Mar Da Sik is back with Du4Self Records to hit us with another mixtape, Off With Their Heads. The mixtape drops May 27 and will be available on datpiff.com and du4self.com. Da Sik is celebrating the release of the mixtape with a ridiculously packed album-release show at the Gruv Lounge (also
Music
J-Mar Da Sik is back with Du4Self Records to hit us with another mixtape, Off With Their Heads. The mixtape drops May 27 and will be available on datpiff.com and du4self.com. Da Sik is celebrating the release of the mixtape with a ridiculously packed album-release show at the Gruv Lounge (also
Music
Tacoma is inundated with street-hop. Lots of MC's put out music, from the Hill to the Eastside to the Southside to the Sway - and everywhere in between. There's so much reality-rap in this city that it can be hard for the consumer or fan to pick out the
Music
He's back. Only one MC from Tacoma has gotten big enough to where those two words mean anything. Not that he ever left us. The MC I speak of has consistently been opening for the biggest national acts that hit Sea-Tac. He's one of the few Tacoma MCs who get good looks
Music
Go back to 2005-06 in yo mind. What you'll find is hip-hop hustlers still selling their new releases out of the trunks of their rides. The only online promo action is MySpace. There's no Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation or 253hiphop.com. It was just music and grind. These days were ruled by Jay
Music
I know this is hard to believe, but I have another solid mixtape to report on this week. The crazy thing is: the next two weeks will be just as heavy. So, without further delay I present to ya'll Gazmo the Great's iBeast. This is a pretty high-caliber mixtape. Notable guest
Music
We've already had a bunch of high-profile mixtapes and/or albums drop this year from some of the top Tacoma MC's. One in particular is getting mad spins, critical acclaim and props from heads all over Sea-Tac. I speak of Havi Blaze's solo mixtape, Purple and Gold the Balance. Havi keeps it
Music
Last week I said we were lucky to have a live weekly hip-hop night. I lied. We have two! While the weekly hip-hop night I mentioned last week happens at El Perron every Wednesday night, there's also an all-ages cipher/freestyle session every Sunday at the Graffiti Garages on South Ninth and Broadway
Music
There are so many things going on with 253 hip-hop that I'm actually having to choose what goes in here every week. These are tough decisions, but it's a good sign that we have lots of things bubbling. Probably the most fun thing to do this week would be for you
We Recommend
Probably the most fun thing to do this week would be for you to attend D‘Rocc's video shoot. D'Rocc is one of the main up-and-comers in our hip-hop scene and he's had some big videos in the past. The video being shot this week is open to the public -
Music
Sykes can sing I'm still working on catching ya'll up on what you've missed so far hip-hop-wise in 2011. Todd Sykes (one half of the Volcano's favorite hip-hop group, City Hall) dropped a solo instrumental album in mid-January. This album is available for free on their slick website, wearecityhall.com. The album
We Recommend
If you're trying to catch a show this week, I suggest checking out Tacoma's own Motamouth Jones. This MC has been making noise in the streets since the early ‘90s, winning battles, corner ciphers and talent shows all around town. Now he's rolling with Tacoma's King Jay Barz. That should
Music
This is the debut of "What's the Word?" a weekly column covering Tacoma and 253-area hip-hop. Being that it's mid-March, I thought it would be a good idea to bring ya'll up to speed on what's happened already during the first few months of 2011 On Valentine's Day a free EP
